Mexico’s Drought Conditions Improve Despite Dry Season, With 12.3% of Territory Affected

Mexico City — Mexico has recorded its fourth consecutive fortnight of improvement in drought-affected areas despite entering the peak dry season, with only 12.3% of the national territory currently experiencing drought impacts.

The National Meteorological Service’s Drought Monitor, dated April 15, 2026, shows that 87.7% of Mexico’s surface area remains unaffected by drought conditions.

The report highlighted that during the first half of April, the interaction of various weather systems—including cold fronts, the subtropical jet stream, low-pressure channels, upper-level troughs, and moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico—caused above-average rainfall across much of the country, particularly in the northeast and eastern regions.

“These rains helped reduce areas experiencing moderate to exceptional drought in Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, and eliminated severe drought in the northern Yucatan Peninsula,” the report stated.

The National Meteorological Service noted that in contrast, below-normal precipitation was recorded in the northwest and western parts of the country, leading to increased moderate and severe drought in northern Sonora and the development of abnormally dry conditions in Sinaloa, Nayarit, and the border area between Jalisco and Zacatecas.

The report specified that 8.0% of national territory is abnormally dry, 2.4% has moderate drought, 1.2% has severe drought, 0.6% has extreme drought, and 0.1% has exceptional drought.

According to the Drought Monitor, Coahuila has the highest percentage of affected municipalities at 42.1%, followed by Tamaulipas at 23.3%, Nuevo León at 21.6%, Sinaloa at 20%, and Sonora at 11.1%.

Cutzamala System at 74% Capacity

The Cutzamala System continues its strong performance, boosted by the historic 2025 rainy season that has maintained its best water levels in seven years for this time of year. The system currently holds 581.89 million cubic meters of available water, equivalent to 74.4% capacity.

According to data from the Basin Organization of the Valley of Mexico, the Cutzamala System decreased by 10.54 million cubic meters of water last week due to extractions for human consumption and agricultural irrigation.

Valle de Bravo Dam at 81%

The Valle de Bravo Dam in the State of Mexico currently reports 81.6% capacity, the Villa Victoria Dam in the same state has 73.2%, and the El Bosque Dam in Zitácuaro, Michoacán, stands at 61.4%.

Since February 25, the Cutzamala System has increased potable water pumping to the Valley of Mexico to more than 15,000 liters per second to address the dry season, a measure that will remain in place at least until June 31.